Circuit-breaker for gas-engines.



PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907.

F. B. PAOKWOOD.

CIRCUIT BREAKER FOR GAS ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1906.

INVENTOI? F-LEMION BPACKWO on WITNESSES.

A TTOBNE YS FLEMION B. PACKIVOOD, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

CIRCUIT-BREAKER FOR GAS-ENGlNES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 18 07.

Application filed January 2, 1906. Serial No. 294.110.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FLnMroN BERTRAND PAcxwooD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Lanca ter and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and Improved Gircuit-Breaker for Gas- Engines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to novel and peculiar circuit breaking means, for use in the ignition circuit of explosive engines, and consists of an automatically operated device, adapted upon reverse motion of the engine, to automatically break the primary or secondary ignition current, thus preventing continued reverse motion of the engine.

Vhile my invention is designed for use with gas or gasolene engines as stated, its broad conception comprehends any similar acting out out device. In other words, the basic idea involved, is the utilization of reversed action of an engine or motor, to accomplish breaking of the ignition or power circuit, and thus prevent continued reversed motion of the engine or motor.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevated plan view of a suitable case, having one side detached, and with my circuit breaking devices shown arranged therein, at closing adjustment. Fig. 2 is a similar view, but illustrating the circuit breaking device adjusted to open position.

It is well known that when starting a gas or gasolene explosive engine, by manual closure of the ignition circuit, that there is no certainty that the initial explosion will be in time for effecting forward driving action, and that should the engine be reversely started, its continued reverse action, due to operative supply of the explosive mixture and ignition thereof, would likely be the cause of much well understood trouble and to obviate such objection, I arrange in the ignition circuit, means for breaking same, should the engine be started into backward or reverse motion.

In the practice of my invention I employ a suitable case A, having a removable side, adapted to be secured by bolts entered into an opening in suitable ears B, on the case, or by other approved means. Into the case A I extend one end of a shaft G, whose other end has suitable driving connection with the moving parts of the engine, the end of the shaft G in the case, may have support by means of a cross bar D. On the shaft G I fixedly arrange a circular body E, having an opening F in its periphery or outer surface.

G denotes an arm having pivotal support at one end, on a cross-bar G. One end of the arm G, back of its pivotal connection, is suitably flattened, as at H, providing suitable bearing surface for engagement with the free end of a fixedly secured spring I. The action of the spring I, against the flattened end H of the arm G, is designed to yieldingly support the arm with pressure tending to hold same on a common center. The free or longer end of the arm G is provided with a roller J, and the arm is extended and adapted for holding the roller in contact with the circular body, in lapping position back of entrance into the opening F, substantially as shown. On one side of the arm G I arrange a spring K, whose free end is disposed for electrical contact with the inner end of a suit able binding-post L.

M denotes a suitable binding post, in electrical circuit with the cross-bar G. Now with the arm G and spring K constructed of conductive material, obviously with the parts adjusted as shown by full lines in Fig. 1, an electrical circuit would be completed from the binding post M, through the cross bar G, the arm G, spring K, and the bindingpost L. r

The circuit wires N, 0, will be understood as lead and return circuits extending from well known electrical supply means.

In the use of my improved circuit breaker, should the engine be started into forward motion, the circular body IE, will be rotated as indicated by the full-line arrow in Fig. 1. Now it is apparent that so long as the circular body E rotates as just described, the arm G will be retained at closing position of the circuit traced through M, G, G K and L. Should the initial or starting explosion be given out of time with the arm G at closing position, and the engine thereby started into reverse motion, it is apparent that the cir cular body E would likewise be imparted reverse rotation, indieated by the full line arrow in Fig. 2. In thus rotating the circular body E, would hold the arm G at closing position until the opening F in the circular body is brought around into position adapted to receive the roller-end of the arm G, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and through its continued reverse action, force the arm G, to

the full line position thereof, shown by Fig. 2 thereby breaking the ignition circuit. During continued reverse motion of the circular body E, the arm G will be held at cut-out position of the ignition circuit, and consequently no further explosions take place.

When the engine parts are adjusted into position for forward motion, the circular body will thereby be caused to rotate as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 until theroller end of the arm G is entered into the opening F, and the arm be thereby moved into closing position of the circuit M, G, G, K, L hereinbefore fully described.

Now it is apparent that my circuit breaking means, will govern reverse action of an engine or motor, should same be started into reverse motion, to the extent of switching out the ignition or power current.

that I claim is:

The combination in a circuit breaker, of a case, a rotatable shaft extended into the case,

electric circuit terminals on the case, one of said terminals being arranged. insulated. from the case and made projecting thereinto, and devices in the case, comprising a circular body arranged on the rotatable shaft, the ciroular body being constructed with a peripheral opening, a conductive arm having pivotal support in the case, the pivot connection being located at one end of the arm, the arm at the other end being extended adapted to enter the opening in said circular body, the arm being also arranged in conductive connection with the case, a yielding contact on said arm, and tension means adapted. to yieldingly hold the extended end of the conductive arm in contact with said circular body during circuit completing or cutting out adjustment thereof.

FLEMION B. PAOKlVOOD. Witnesses RAY C. HALL, C. L. lVI'r'rE. 

